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Kansas City, KS: A City of Murals

Murals change the landscape of a community, bringing together colors and paint to celebrate the history and diversity of an area.

In Kansas City, KS, The Avenue of Murals project includes eight murals in a four-block corridors along Minnesota Avenue. These murals highlight the culture and individuality of the communities that live and work in Kansas City, KS. Each mural tells a different story of the people who have settled in the area.One honors the importance of family and culture in the African American community, while another is a tribute to Mexican folklórico dancing. Others paint portraits of lives that have been led in the city throughout the years.

But the murals don't stop on Minnesota Avenue - walk or drive around just about any neighborhood and you might find another new painting to appreciate.

Kansan Printer, 2006

This mural is in the style of WPA murals and shows a printer at a handpress as a way to honor It was designed with the help of retired printers who worked at the Kansas City Kansan newspaper. It honors the history of the building that housed this community’s newspaper for 80 years in the heart of Downtown.(Artists: Jose Faus and Alisha Gambino, Location: 901 N 8th St.)

Wyandot Echoes, 2007

This mural represents the migrations of members of the Wyandot Nation, who were forced to leave Ohio, Michagan and Ontario by steamboat. Despite great difficulty, they built a prosperous town that would grow into what we know today as Kansas City, KS. (Artists Duane Dudley, Jose Faus, Alisha Gambino, Location: 636 Minnesota Ave)

Pandatopia: Somewhere Over the Rainbow, 2005

Painted on the north side of Pandarama Pre-School, the mural is about the learning and discovery unlocked by books and play. (Directing artist: Jose Faus, Location: 118 N 7th St. )

Avenue Chronicles, 2006

Up and Down Round and Round, 2007

Inspired by the life stories of a senior citizen writing class at the Shepherd Center, high school students created the design for this mural that depicts the up and down unpredictability of life. (Directing artist: Jose Faus, Location: 947 Minnesota Ave)

Dawning of a New Day, 2004

Honoring the importance of generation, family and culture in the African American community, the left side of this mural emphasizes the cultural legacy of African art, dress, architecture and textile patterns. The right side mirrors an African skyline with an urban American skyline, and features portraits of people who have left a legacy in American society - many with Kansas City connections. The middle section features the seven principles of Kwanzaa and show the hope of children in the future. (Artists: Jose Faus and Alisha Gambino, Location: 1207 N. 7th St.)

Facing the Past, Looking to the Cuture: A Kansas Hmong Storycloth, 2005

Patterned after an embroidered Hmong story cloth, this mural represents modern and traditional Hmong culture through mirror images of work, play and celebration. The border design around the edges is inspired by traditional stitched patterns.The dominant colors of the mural are blue - common to story cloths - and green for the lush green landscapes of Hmong villages. (Directing artists: Jose Faus and Alisha Gambino, Location: 751 Minnesota Ave)

El Baile de la Vida, 2004

A tribute to Mexican folklórico dancing, this mural portrays, in vivid color, dancers in costumes from 19 different Mexican states. They surround a scene of modern-day dancers of all ages. The mural includes familiar Mexican images including La Virgen de Guadalupe skeletons from Day of the Dead celebrations and the Mexican coat of arms. (Directing artist: Jose Faus, Location: 826 Minnesota Ave.)

Mathias Splitlog Mural, 2017

Mathias Splitlog was a half French half Native American businessman who married Eliza Narnett of the Ohio Wyandot tribe. Although he could neither read nor write, Mathias spoke seven languages and was a mechanical genius. He built the first gristmill in Kansas, and, in 1860, he constructed a steamboat to carry freight to small settlements on the river. This mural next to Splitlog Coffee Co. honors the impact he had on the Kansas City, KS community. (Artist: Gregory Kolsto, Location: 548 Central Ave)

Armourdale Mural

Directed by John Bonacio Moreno, with Día de Mertos (Day of the Dead) themes throughout, this art shows a scene of heart, family, faith and the notion that "Perdonar es Amar" (forgiveness is love). (Directing artist: John Bonifacio Moreno, Location: South 10th St. & Osage Ave)

Rainbow Pet Mural

Maria Cocchiarelli Berger, who now co-manages the Museum of Friends in Walsenburg, CO, painted this mural featuring a variety of animals in there natural and domestic environments. (Artist: Maria Coffiarelli Berger, Location: 4468 Rainbow Boulevard)

42nd Street Mural, 2019

The 42nd Street Mural project was developed by a collective effort between the Rosedale Development Association and KCK local artists and residents to preserve the history of the Rosedale area. (Directing artists: Abigail Townsend, Lydia Knopp, Vania Soto, Location: 42nd Ave & Mission Road)

1889 Napoletana Pizza Mural, 2016

In 2016, Lance Flores worked together with 1889 Pizza Napoletana to create a Kansas City focused mural that would be displayed on the backside of their building, facing Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que,capturing beautiful things about KC in a modern way. (Artist: Lance Flores, Location: 2876 W 47th Ave)

Strawberry Hill Mural

This mural is painted on the side of Colonial Club and designed by the Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Association to welcome visitors to the historic area. (Location: 322 6th St)

Use this guide as an inspiration for your very own driving or walking tour! For more on the story of the vibrant city of Kansas City, KS, flip through our digital visitor guide here.